Expanded chess game and method therefor

Abstract

A new, expanded chess game is disclosed which provides a game board having an upper surface for playing the expanded chess game and a first and a second set of game pieces for use by a first and a second player, respectively. The playing surface provides a unique octagonal shape comprised of a plurality of squares over which the game pieces move. Each set of game pieces includes the standard set of chess pieces from the standard game of chess, namely a King, a Queen, two Rooks, two Bishops, two Knights, and eight Pawns, and two of a new, separate game piece called the Viceroy. Each of the standard chess pieces operate in accordance with the rules of standard chess with the exception that the castling procedure is not permitted in the expanded chess game. The new, Viceroy game pieces move two spaces at a time in one of a forward, backward, left, right, or diagonal motion. The combination of the new, expanded octagonal playing surface with the new Viceroy game piece provides a new, expanded chess game having a greater number of potential game scenarios.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An expanded chess game for use by a first player against a second player with each player using game pieces comprising, in combination: a game board having an upper surface for playing said expanded chess game, said upper surface having an octagonal shape comprising a plurality of squares over which said game pieces move;   said game pieces comprising a first and a second set of game pieces respectively used by said first player and said second player for playing said expanded chess game on said game board with each set of game pieces including a standard set of game pieces from a standard chess game; and   said first and second set of game pieces each including at least one new, separate game piece for playing said expanded chess game on said game board, each said new, separate game piece having a movement on said game board defined by moving an amount equal to two of said squares away from a square that said new, separate game piece is resting on in one direction of a forward motion, a backward motion, a left motion, a right motion, and a diagonal motion; and   wherein said upper surface having said octagonal shape comprising said plurality of squares consists of fourteen parallel and adjacent rows of said squares including a first row having only 4 of said squares, a second row having only 6 of said squares, a third row having only 8 of said squares, a fourth row having only 10 of said squares, a fifth row having only 12 of said squares, a sixth row having only 14 of said squares, a seventh row having only 14 of said squares, an eighth row having only 14 of said squares, a ninth row having only 14 of said squares, a tenth row having only 12 of said squares, an eleventh row having only 10 of said squares, a twelfth row having only 8 of said squares, a thirteenth row having only 6 of said squares, and a fourteenth row having only 4 of said squares, each of said squares being colored by one of a first color and a second color.   
     
     
       2. The expanded chess game of claim 1 wherein each row of said fourteen parallel and adjacent rows of said squares when viewed by moving a single square at a time from a first end square to an opposite end square for each of said fourteen rows defines a color pattern that alternates between said first color and said second color, and said color pattern defines an unchanging color pattern of one of said first color and said second color when viewed by moving diagonally between any two of said squares. 
     
     
       3. The expanded chess game of claim 1 wherein said standard set of game pieces from said standard chess game includes a King, a Queen, two Rooks, two Knights, two Bishops, and eight Pawns and each game piece of said standard set of game pieces from said standard chess game operates in said expanded chess game according to all rules governing play of said standard set of game pieces in said standard chess game except that a procedure known as castling from said standard chess game is not allowed in said expanded chess game. 
     
     
       4. The expanded chess game of claim 1 wherein said new, separate game piece is called a Viceroy, said Viceroy having a lower base supporting portion, an elongated mid-section portion, and a substantially V-shaped upper portion. 
     
     
       5. The expanded chess game of claim 4 wherein said first player has said standard set of said game pieces and two of said Viceroy of said first color, and said second player also has said standard set of said game pieces and two of said Viceroy of said second color. 
     
     
       6. A method of playing an expanded chess game for use by a first player against a second player with each player using game pieces comprising the steps of: providing a game board having an upper surface for playing said expanded chess game, said upper surface having an octagonal shape comprising a plurality of squares over which said game pieces move;   providing said game pieces comprising a first and a second set of game pieces respectively used by said first player and said second player for playing said expanded chess game on said game board with each set of game pieces including a standard set of game pieces from a standard chess game; and   providing said first and second set of game pieces each including at least one new, separate game piece for playing said expanded chess game on said game board, each said new, separate game piece having a movement on said game board defined by moving an amount equal to two of said squares away from a square that said new, separate game piece is resting on in one direction of a forward motion, a backward motion, a left motion, a right motion, and a diagonal motion; and   wherein said upper surface having said octagonal shape comprising said plurality of squares consists of fourteen parallel and adjacent rows of said squares including a first row having only 4 of said squares, a second row having only 6 of said squares, a third row having only 8 of said squares, a fourth row having only 10 of said squares, a fifth row having only 12 of said squares, a sixth row having only 14 of said squares, a seventh row having only 14 of said squares, an eighth row having only 14 of said squares, a ninth row having only 14 of said squares, a tenth row having only 12 of said squares, an eleventh row having only 10 of said squares, a twelfth row having only 8 of said squares, a thirteenth row having only 6 of said squares, and a fourteenth row having only 4 of said squares, each of said squares being colored by one of a first color and a second color.   
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6 wherein each row of said plurality of parallel and adjacent rows of said squares when viewed by moving a single square at a time from a first end square to an opposite end square for each of said fourteen rows defines a color pattern that alternates between said first color and said second color, and said color pattern defines an unchanging color pattern of one of said first color and said second color when viewed by moving diagonally between any two of said squares. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 6 wherein said standard set of game pieces from said standard chess game includes a King, a Queen, two Rooks, two Knights, two Bishops, and eight Pawns and each game piece of said standard set of game pieces from said standard chess game operates in said expanded chess game according to all rules governing play of said standard set of game pieces in said standard chess game except that a procedure know as castling from said standard chess game is not allowed in said expanded chess game. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8 wherein when any Pawn of said first player's 8 Pawns reaches one of said 4 squares of said fourteenth row, one of an end square and an opposite end square of said thirteenth row, said twelfth row, said eleventh row, said tenth row, and said ninth row, said first player can have said Pawn become one of said Queen, said Viceroy, said Rook, said Knight, and said Bishop, and when any Pawn of said second player's 8 Pawns reaches one of said 4 squares of said first row, one of an end square and an opposite end square of said second row, said third row, said fourth row, said fifth row, and said sixth row, said second player can have said Pawn become one of said Queen, said Viceroy, said Rook, said Knight, and said Bishop. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 6 wherein a first of said two squares of said movement of said new, separate game piece must be without any game piece thereon in order to permit said movement. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 6 wherein said movement of said new, separate game piece by said two squares lands on a square having any game piece of an opponent's game pieces thereon provides capture and thereby permits removal of said any game piece of said opponent's game pieces from said game board. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 6 wherein said new, separate game piece is called a Viceroy, said Viceroy having a lower base supporting portion, an elongated mid-section portion, and a substantially V-shaped upper portion. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12 wherein said first player has said standard set of said game pieces and two of said Viceroy of said first color, and said second player also has said standard set of said game pieces and two of said Viceroy of said second color. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 6 wherein said first player initially places 4 of their game pieces in said first row from left to right as Viceroy, Queen, King, and Viceroy, 6 of their game pieces in said second row from left to right as Rook, Knight, Bishop, Bishop, Knight, and Rook, and 8 of their Pawns in said third row, and said second player initially places 4 of their game pieces in said fourteenth row from left to right as Viceroy, King, Queen, and Viceroy, 6 of their game pieces in said thirteenth row from left to right as Rook, Knight, Bishop, Bishop, Knight, and Rook, and 8 of their Pawns in said twelfth row.